Three questions first
- How many portions go over the counter in your busiest hour?
- Where does the machine stand: on the counter or on the floor, and how wide may it be?
- Is there a water connection and a drain, and how warm does it get there in summer?
Business by business
All outputs are figures from Nissei. You will find every model with its data under All machines, and what else suits your house under Your business.
| Business | What counts | Fits, for example |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel and buffet | Little space, simple to use, often self-service | Nissei Compact (30 l/h, 29 cm wide) or Compact Frozen Yogurt |
| Restaurant | Soft serve as a dessert, the machine stands at the pass or in the kitchen | Nissei Compact or Power TT |
| Café and bakery | Walk-in trade, one flavour, little floor space | Nissei Power TT (55 l/h, countertop) |
| Kiosk and leisure | Rush hours, heat, often full sun | Nissei Power Pro (55 l/h) or Giant (75 l/h) |
| Ice cream parlour and start-up | Two flavours and mixed, continuous use | Nissei Titan Duo (55 + 75 l/h) |
| Bar and beach club | Soft serve and shakes from one machine | Nissei Combi (1 soft serve, 4 milkshakes) |
| Events and catering | Mobile, often without a water connection | Air-cooled machine, for example from Spaceman |
Cooling: air or water
Our rule of thumb from the guide Air or water cooling:
- No water connection, or mobile: air-cooled
- Up to about 150 portions a day and good ventilation: air-cooled works
- About 150 to 400 portions a day: water-cooled recommended
- Above that, or in sun and heat: water-cooled
Space and connections
- The Nissei Compact is 29 cm wide, Power TT and floor models 46 cm, the Titan Duo 65 cm (according to Nissei)
- The Nissei models with the RAPP pump need 400 V
- Water-cooled machines need a water connection and a drain
- Air-cooled machines need clearance so the warm air can escape
Plan for the fullest day
Do not plan with the average, plan with the Saturday in August. A machine that cannot keep up in the busiest hour loses sales exactly when most guests are there. How to estimate the output is in the guide Buying a soft serve machine.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Which soft serve machine fits a small café?
Usually a countertop machine with one flavour. According to Nissei the Compact is 29 cm wide and makes 30 l per hour, the Power TT 55 l per hour.
Is a countertop machine enough for a kiosk?
For quiet trade, yes. Where a queue forms on hot days, a floor model with more output and water cooling is the safe choice.
Can a machine run as self-service in a hotel?
According to the maker, the Nissei frozen yogurt models are available with self-service as an option.
Sources
We quote makers’ figures with their source. Experience from our kiosk is marked as such.
